Attacks on Palestinians evacuating Gaza City

Last updated
Attacks on Palestinians evacuating Gaza City
Part of the Gaza war and genocide
Location Gaza Strip
Date13 October 2023 [1] [2] [3] – present
(2 years, 2 months, 1 week and 3 days)
Attack type
Disputed (airstrike; possible IED) [4] [5]
Deaths70+ Palestinians killed [4]
Injured200+ [4]
VictimsGaza Palestinians

Since October 2023, multiple attacks during the Gaza war hit Palestinians attempting to leave northern Gaza City. On 13 October, an airstrike occurred after an evacuation directive from Israel, urging more than a million residents from northern Gaza to move to the southern part of the territory. The airstrike killed 70 people, mostly women and children, and injured 200. [6] [4] [7] [8] [9]

Background

Tensions escalated when Hamas, the group in control of Gaza, launched an attack on Israel. Israel responded with a series of airstrikes on Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued a warning to residents in the northern regions to evacuate by a specific deadline. However, the United Nations considered this evacuation order both impractical and impracticable to execute safely due to the significant number of people it affected. [10]

Attacks

Missile attacks

13 October 2023

On 13 October, Israel ordered the entire population of northern Gaza to move south, forcing more than one million people to flee their homes. Following the order, 70 people were killed on the evacuation convoys heading south to Gaza, mostly women and children. [4] [11] [12] While airstrikes persisted in the south, Palestinians initiated evacuations from northern Gaza. According to Hamas officials' reports, these attacks led to the loss of lives primarily women and children. [11] [13] [14] According to the Hamas media office, these airstrikes were carried out on vehicles leaving Gaza City. These cars were targeted at three points. [11]

Although there are disputes about the exact details of the attacks, a number of sources attribute responsibility to an Israeli missile strike. [4] [5] [15] When analysing video footage of the event, the Financial Times reported that it "appears to rule out most explanations aside from an Israeli strike." [5] British Army major and munitions expert Chris Cobb-Smith stated that a missile was the most likely cause of the explosions seen in the videos. Another munitions expert, Desmond Travers, considered an Israeli attack to be the most plausible explanation, although he did not rule out other possible explanations. [5]

Other sources, including the BBC, reported the event without suggesting the responsible party, [16] and some sources pointed to the absence of airstrike signatures in photographed material, suggesting roadside bombings. [17] Israel directly accused Hamas of blocking Palestinian evacuation, in order to use them as "human shields". [17]

3 November 2023

On 3 November, fourteen people were killed by an Israeli bombardment while attempting to evacuate northern Gaza. [18] On 11 November, the United Nations noted several explosions had hit the evacuation corridor on Salah al-Din Road, resulting in fatalities and injuries. [19]

20 September 2025

On 20 September, Israeli forces struck a truck carrying civilians attempting to flee northern Gaza following military evacuation orders. The attack occurred in the Nasr area of Gaza and resulted in the deaths of at least four people. [20]

Gunfire attacks

26 October 2023

On 26 October, the IDF released an audio recording which it said featured a Gaza resident stating that Hamas was shooting at people attempting to evacuate northern Gaza. [21] [22] [23] [24]

7 November 2023

Civilians waved white flags as they passed Israeli tanks, though they reported Israeli soldiers firing at them anyway and passing dead bodies along the road. The IDF said that troops were under Hamas fire when trying to open the temporary evacuation road for civilians. [25]

13 January 2024

On 13 January 2024, a Palestinian grandmother was shot by an Israeli sniper while holding her grandson's hand, waving a white flag, and walking on the evacuation route which had been declared safe. [26]

10 September 2025

On 10 September 2025, at least 13 people, including local television journalist Mohammad Alaa Al-Sawalhi, were killed while complying with orders to leave Gaza City, according to local health authorities. The deaths occurred as civilians were fleeing the city amid ongoing Israeli strikes and gunfire. [27]

Tank attacks

On 27 October, Israel began a ground-level invasion into the Gaza Strip, with tanks entering and surrounding the areas around Gaza City. [28]

30 October 2023

On 30 October, residents evacuating Gaza City near Netzarim were hit by tank shelling, which opened-fire on their vehicle while they attempted to u-turn. [29] [30] Video of the attack appeared to show the vehicle destroyed. [31] Three people were reported killed. [32]

22 February 2024

On 22 February 2024, a family attempting to flee Gaza City were hit by Israeli tank fire, despite waving white flags. [33]

Responses

Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, described the 13 October attack as "a new massacre". [34] The Palestine Red Crescent Society, a medical organization, said: "We have not left and will not leave. Our medics will carry on their humanitarian duties. We won’t leave people to face death alone.” [35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ October 13, 2023 - Israel-Hamas war news; By Kathleen Magramo, Adam Renton, Christian Edwards, Ed Upright, Aditi Sangal, Alisha Ebrahimji, Elise Hammond, Kaanita Iyer, Zoe Sottile and Tori B. Powell, CNN CNN Retrieved 27 October 2023
  2. ↑ Israel bombed the convoy of Gaza refugees; At least 70 people were killed and more than 200 were injured by Israeli warplanes after bombing the convoy of Gaza refugees. trt; Retrieved 27 October 2023
  3. ↑ Israeli bombing kills 70 Palestinians fleeing to the south of the Gaza Strip, says Hamas Retrieved 27 October 2023
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Israel-Hamas war live updates: 70 killed after convoys of evacuees in Gaza hit by Israeli airstrikes". NBC News . 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Srivastava, Mehul; Joiner, Sam; Andringa, Peter (15 October 2023). "Did Israel bomb a civilian evacuation route in Gaza?" . Financial Times. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Dozens killed while fleeing Gaza homes as Israel conducts ground raids". Al Jazeera. 13 October 2023. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "October 14, 2023 Israel-Hamas war news". CNN. 2023-10-14. Archived from the original on 14 Oct 2023. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  8. ↑ EFE, Agencia (2023-10-13). "Israeli bombing kills 70 Palestinians fleeing to the south of the Gaza Strip, says Hamas - EFE". EFE Noticias. Archived from the original on 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  9. ↑ Abou-Ghazala, Yahya (2023-10-16). "They followed evacuation orders. An Israeli airstrike killed them the next day". CNN. Archived from the original on 16 Oct 2023. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  10. ↑ Graham-Harrison, Emma; McKernan, Bethan; Michaelson, Ruth; Kierszenbaum, Quique (October 14, 2023). "Israeli airstrikes hit northern Gaza as Palestinians try to leave". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 "Dozens killed while fleeing Gaza homes as Israel conducts ground raids". Archived from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  12. ↑ DeBre, Isabel; Lederer, Edith M.; Shurafa, Wafaa (13 October 2023). "Airstrikes hit Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate". Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  13. ↑ "Thousands flee Gaza after Israel orders mass evacuation". The Straits Times. October 14, 2023. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  14. ↑ Siddiqui, Usaid; Stepansky, Joseph; Marsi, Federica; Hatuqa, Dalia (2023-10-13). "Iran warns Israel to halt 'war crimes' in Gaza before 'it's too late'". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  15. ↑ "Scores killed in Israeli air strikes on families fleeing northern Gaza". Middle East Eye. 13 October 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  16. ↑ "Deadly strike on convoy fleeing northern Gaza". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  17. 1 2 "One million Gazans displaced as Israel readies for ground attack". France 24. 15 October 2023. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Israeli attack kills 14 fleeing south: Gaza health officials". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 Nov 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Vinall, Frances; Berger, Miriam. "People fleeing on road south hit by deadly explosions, U.N. says". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 Nov 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  20. ↑ Siddiqui, Usaid (20 September 2025). "Israeli forces kill 91 in Gaza, including civilians fleeing Gaza City". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  21. ↑ "LISTEN: Hamas blocks road to Gazans fleeing- 'They're shooting at people'". The Jerusalem Post . 2023-10-26. ISSN   0792-822X. Archived from the original on 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  22. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel (26 October 2023). "IDF releases recording of Gazan saying Hamas shooting at people trying to flee south". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 27 Oct 2023.
  23. ↑ Zitun, Yoav (26 October 2023). "'They are shooting at people,' Gazan says Hamas preventing evacuation to safety". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "IDF: Gaza resident says Hamas preventing evacuations; thousands return north". The Times of Israel. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 Sep 2025.
  25. ↑ Shurafa, Wafa (7 November 2023). "Civilians fleeing northern Gaza's combat zone report a terrifying journey on foot past Israeli tanks". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 30 Jan 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Shot in 'cold blood': Killing of Palestinian grandmother sparks outcry". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 15 Jan 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  27. ↑ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Cornwell, Alexander; Scheer, Steven (17 September 2025). "Israel opens new route out of Gaza City, death toll passes 65,000". Reuters. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  28. ↑ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (30 October 2023). "Israeli forces attack Gaza's main city from two directions". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 Oct 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  29. ↑ Berger, Miriam. "Israel tanks penetrate deep into Gaza, as Hamas hostage video emerges". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 31 Oct 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  30. ↑ ElSayed, Youmna. "Israeli forces fire on civilian vehicles evacuating Gaza City". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  31. ↑ Gritten, David (30 October 2023). "Tank seen on key Gaza road as Israeli forces push deeper into north". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "More on the Israeli tank attack near Gaza City". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  33. ↑ "Waving white flags, Palestinians trying to flee Gaza City shelled by Israeli army". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  34. ↑ Israel bombed the convoy of Gaza refugees Archived 2023-10-16 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2023
  35. ↑ Dozens killed while fleeing Gaza homes as Israel conducts ground raids Archived 2023-10-14 at the Wayback Machine aljazeera.com Retrieved 15 October 2023
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